It’s the second highest draft position ever for an Aggies player. Only pitcher Jeff Granger, who went fifth to the Kansas City Royals in 1993, went higher.

“This means a lot,” Loux said before Monday’s suspended regional title game between A&M and Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. “I worked really hard, and I’m just very excited about the opportunity to go play.”

As for his teammates’ reaction as they waited in the Miami weight room during a rain delay?

“Everybody jumped on me,” Loux said. “It was kind of a mini-dogpile. It was a great way to start the night.”

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior has an 11-2 record with a 2.60 ERA this season. Opponents have hit .197 against him, and he was the Big 12 leader in strikeouts at 136 with just 33 walks.